Turner Classic Movies

Finally the day has arrived to start this year's film festival. I can't wait to see the stars and the wonderful classic movies.

I'll be in touch.

Nebraska Nellie

Nebraska National Grassland

Toadstool Park

Scottsbluff

Happy Birthday Nebraska.

Today Nebraska is 145 years old. Nebraska has much to offer. Low unemployment. Great people. Good work ethic. Many beautiful things to see across the state. Go see the sandhill cranes. Toadstool Park is such a surprise. Sandhills. Plains. Bluffs. Check it out.

Nebraska Nellie

Turkeys at Desoto

We saw the wild turkeys as we were heading toward the end of our tour around the refuge. We saw no wildlife from the wildlife overlook--but will try again. The feathers on the turkeys were irridescent. We saw about 20 turkeys.

Nebrasksa Nellie

Tree at Desoto

I am assuming that a beaver must have had lunch on this tree.

Nebraska Nellie

Geese at Desoto

Yesterday my friend and I went to Desoto National Wildlife Refuge. We were hoping to see lots of eagles. Our best viewing was as we were driving on I-80 near Mahoney State Park. Two bald eagles were flying over the highway. Eagles are glorious as they soar above. However, I couldn't take pictures with my new 400 mm lens as I drive down the the interstate at 75 mph. We did see three eagles but they were two far to get anything very good. The temperatures were in the 40s but the wind over the water made it feel very cold. I can't understand how the geese sit on the ice.

Desoto was hit hard by the flood last year and you could see the water line on the trees and bushes. Parts of the land are ravaged and look like desert. Lots of trees have died and fallen. I'm sure it will come back but nature was hard on the refuge last year.

We plan to go back as spring comes when we can see the wildlife again.

Nebraska Nellie

The Help

I saw this in the theatre and also with my family the day after Christmas. Again, it's hard to understand the level of racism that has still occurred in my lifetime. Growing up in a small Nebraska town, I didn't see it.

This story takes place in the 1960's. I can only imagine the rage the help must have felt when they were treated the way they were. Life is complex and Abilene and Minnie were such interesting people. Enough happened that they decided to tell their stories to Skeeter.

It was hard to believe that Cissy Spacek and Cicely Tyson are now playing the old lady roles. Loved them. Go see it or get the DVD.

Good luck at the Oscars.

Nebraska Nellie

Red Tails

I loved this film. I saw interviews of George Lucus on the Daily Show and John Ridley on Morning Joe. Lucus has worked on getting this film done for 25 years and John Ridley has been working on the story and screenplay for four years. In my opinion, it was worth every minute of their time.

In the opening scene, there is a quote from 1925 Army regs. about the use of Negroes in the Army. It's so hard to believe that our country was still so racist in WWII and after.

This movie was good on several levels. Terrence Howard and Cuba Gooding, Jr. were great leaders of the Red Tails. Without their leadership, the Red Tails would have failed. The pilots were not without flaws, but there is little doubt that those daring pilots would not have been so brave. Easy drank too much. Lightning was a dare devil and didn't follow orders.

It was also fun to see Gerald McRaney as a general and Daniela Ruah (NCIS Los Angeles) in this movie.

Lucas said he has a prequel and sequel to do if this is a success. I will be looking forward to it. Good job.

Nebraska Nellie

War Horse

War Horse was a very good movie with many beautiful scenes of horses and a beautiful country scenes as well as seeing the devastation of war. The story of this magnificent horse who escaped dying numerous times through his earlier training and luck was very good. We see the evil of war and a son grows to understand his father through his experience in war.

The biggest problem is this film was it was too long. It was almost 2 1/2 hours long. There were many parts to this horse story and they were all good. Maybe the various pieces could have been tightened.

I really enjoyed the performances of Jeremy Irvine and Emily Watson. I also liked the grandfather who made jam.

In this WW I picture, we see how devastating war is--now and in the past. I liked the picture.

Nebraska Nellie

The Iron Lady

Meryl Streep is another amazing actor. It's unbelievable how she is able to transform herself into her character and she certainly did so with Margaret Thatcher. Wow! She looked like Thatcher. She sounded like Thatcher. She was Thatcher.

This Iron Lady was inspiring and I wish we had someone so inspiring to be running for president here in the US. The daughter of a grocer understood how to run her country and it's easy to see why President Reagan thought so highly of her.

I enjoyed Thatcher's husband and the young Thatcher was also excellent. If you want to be inspired by a great story, see Iron Lady.

Nebraska Nellie

The Descendents

Today I am going to review some movies I've seen the last two weekends. I love classic movies and it's great to see the movies that are nominated for Oscars. When the theatres were owned by Douglas, they worked with Make a Wish and held Oscar parties as a big fund raiser each year. It was such fun and I miss it.

The Descendants was very good and, to me, George Clooney is one of the few true current "movie stars" in the classic movie tradition. He's an excellent actor and handsome in the Cary Grant way.

George Clooney's character was complex, as were the two girls who played his daughters. Clooney's family is a mess and you see how they evolve through the tragic circumstances of his wife's affair and death.

The movie was excellent and I recommend it to everyone.

Good luck at the Oscars, George.

Nebraska Nellie

Noxious Weed 2 at Rockford

Rockford State Recreation Area

A new addition to my noxious weed collection.

Nebraska Nellie

Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge

Saturday I went with a friend to Squaw Creek NWR. The day was a beautiful day for January. It was sunny and the temperature was in the 40's. We went in search of eagles and found them. To see eagles soaring above you is a beautiful sight. We saw them flying and sitting in trees. We have plans to do more birding at the earliest opportunity.

Nebraska Nellie